2007 MDA Labor Day Telethon

[Deberg_1990]

Wow, I thought Jerry Lewis died years ago??

Havent seen this in years....

[KChiefs1]

Found this about the whole deal...Jerry isn't happy with the MDA & I don't think he'll be making any appearances this year.

The question was posed in a TV studio located, of all places, near Dean Martin Drive and Jerry Lewis Way.

“MSNBC Sunday” host Alex Witt asked it:

How can it be that Jerry Lewis won’t be onstage at the South Point this evening to say a proper goodbye at the MDA Telethon?

“Do we know if this is health related?” Witt asked, reasonably, as Lewis is 85 years old and as recently as June had to miss an appearance on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation of Australia, citing physical exhaustion.

But no, Lewis certainly seems healthy enough to appear on television for 10 minutes, physically robust enough to sing a song and say goodbye. His appearance Aug. 20 at the Nevada Broadcasters Association dinner at Red Rock Resort reinforced that he is in good shape, and his omission from the telethon is not for failing health.

“It is somewhat inconceivable that the MDA Telethon will go on without Jerry Lewis,” Witt added, with mounting incredulity. “When you talk to people, are they scratching their heads and saying, ‘Really? The telethon with no Jerry Lewis?’ ”

Simple answer: Yes.

Officially, the Big Why remains unanswered. What can be said at this moment is Lewis is not part of the 46th MDA Telethon because MDA officials and he never could arrive at an agreeable context and format for what would be Lewis’ historic final appearance. A late-arriving effort to record Lewis performing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with an orchestra Thursday at South Point collapsed Wednesday morning.

Thirty-three musicians were ready to record that clip. Lewis, evidently, was not.

The overriding issue is Lewis and the MDA are clearly at odds and have been at least since the initial announcement in October that the telethon would be condensed from 21 ½ hours to 6. The proverbial red flag was not that the MDA had decided to streamline the show, though Lewis was never in favor of the shorter format.

Nope, the eyebrow-raising development was that no role for Lewis was specified in that announcement. His name was edited out of the telethon’s official title, “Jerry Lewis” didn’t appear anywhere in that news release until the third of four pages -- and only when Lewis’ 1976 reunion with Dean Martin was revisited.

It’s a strange way to refer to a legendary entertainer and philanthropist, to put it mildly. At that point, even Mr. Magoo could see there were fissures in the relationship between Lewis and the MDA. It is not at all a stretch to say that both sides want to run the telethon, and if they can’t agree on format and procedure, it’s the host who either complies or departs.

And Jerry Lewis is anything but compliant, especially when it comes to raising money for “his kids.”

But there will be a telethon, of course, and there will be a high complement of stars. For tonight’s show, airing on KTNV Channel 13 from 6 p.m. to midnight, Celine Dion is scheduled to perform during the opening hour. Jennifer Lopez, Lady Antebellum and Boyz II Men also are expected to take part. The quartet of co-hosts filling the role Lewis has held for five decades are “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, “The Biggest Loser” host and “Days of Our Lives” cast member Alison Sweeney, and celebrity reporters Jann Carl and Nancy O’Dell.

Closing the telecast, a moment traditionally reserved for Lewis singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Jordin Sparks, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi and Jon Secada will sing with the Las Vegas Mass Choir.

As for the legendary now-former telethon chairman and host, Lewis is not saying anything, nor has he for several months, about the MDA and his role with the organization. Today, his affiliation with the MDA can only be viewed in past tense, though, by his measure, he has led a historic fundraising effort that has garnered more than $2 billion for the organization.

Predictably, the treatment of Lewis by the MDA has sparked response from his supporters in the entertainment industry, chiefly his longtime friend Richard Belzer. As The Associated Press has reported, a group of comics in Los Angeles who attempted to have Lewis reinstated as a performer on the telethon, have planned a Web-athon on Monday to collect donations for an award on Lewis’ behalf. That award would be presented each year to scientists working to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy. That effort is being headed up by Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada.

Tonight’s telecast is without question the end of an era. Maybe there will be a mention of Lewis’ peerless role in the organization by one of the celebrity guests. There is one theory that the events of the past several weeks are part of a vast publicity stunt and that Lewis might well appear in person on the show after all, a moment that would rival his onstage reunion with Martin.

If that were to happen, and I cannot believe it would, it would be one of Lewis’ greatest performances. But as they say in Vegas, don’t bet on it. Not today. Not ever.

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow "Kats With the Dish" at twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.

[BigRedChief]

WOW, no matter how dated the fund raising concept is, the dude raised billions for MDA. For kids all over the world. How ever he wants to go out he should be allowed to go out.

[threebag]

Hank was fired from the Grand Ole Opry too.

[JD10367]

Shortening the telethon makes it ****ing pointless. The whole POINT of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, growing up, was that it was the only thing of its kind. In an era of only three networks, all of which went off the air at around 1 or 2 in the morning, the eternally-long MDA telethon was like the Mount Everest of television. Every year as a kid I'd make it a point to stay up as late as possible to see all the musical entertainers, comedians, and Hollywood stars, inevitably falling asleep with the TV on around three in the morning and waking up to the sun shining in and realizing the ****ing thing was still going!!!!1!!1! Then you'd go about your day, and periodically check in to see the tote board rising.

Shortening it is like making John Holmes get a dick reduction. Defeats the entire purpose.

[JD10367]

And let me add, to clarify: the thing that made the MDA the granddaddy of all charities was that it DID have the day-long telethon. It made it SEEM like a charity worthy of raising all that money. No other charity had a telethon that started one night and ran all the way to the next! Breast cancer? March Of Dimes? Jimmy Fund, Will Rogers, any of that shit? **** that. Amateurs! Everyone knew that the MDA would get the most money because it had the biggest and best telethon. They probably went out of their way to fudge the numbers to make it look good, but I guarantee you this "short" telethon will not make nearly the money that Jerry Lewis made.

[JoeyChuckles]

But I can donate to the MDA at grocery stores now. Why do I need a telethon?

[Ultra Peanut]

that's some old bullshit

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by JD10367

And let me add, to clarify: the thing that made the MDA the granddaddy of all charities was that it DID have the day-long telethon. It made it SEEM like a charity worthy of raising all that money. No other charity had a telethon that started one night and ran all the way to the next! Breast cancer? March Of Dimes? Jimmy Fund, Will Rogers, any of that shit? **** that. Amateurs! Everyone knew that the MDA would get the most money because it had the biggest and best telethon. They probably went out of their way to fudge the numbers to make it look good, but I guarantee you this "short" telethon will not make nearly the money that Jerry Lewis made.

The telethon was how MDA seperated itself from other charities for 40 years. Jerry Lewis was the telethon. It will be dead soon. The money coming in will start to fall and its the kids that will suffer.

Part of this has to be on Jerry Lewis for not having a plan in place to deal with his departure.

[RNR]

It had to end sometime. Nobody wants to see something they grew up with fade into history. For quite sometime Lewis has been nothing short of embarrassing on the show. He reminds me of Davis in Oakland. Once on top of their games and respected, both ignored the graceful exit time frame. Lewis unlike Davis spent his life raising over a billion dollars for kids so the comparison ends with not knowing when to bow out. It is too bad Lewis did not groom a replacement to make this inevitable transition smooth. It was way past time for him to step aside and it is sad this became an awkward situation. I hope someone steps up and the telethon regains its footing. The need for a cure is bigger than Lewis although he seemed to not recognize that~

[Deberg_1990]

They are claiming they raised more money than last year "61.5 mil"

How did they do that without Lewis and a much shorter run time??


http://www.tvguide.com/News/MDA-Tele...s=breakingnews

Despite the absence of longtime host Jerry Lewis, the 2011 Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon raised $61.5 million, up approximately $2.6 million from last year, The Associated Press reports.

Lewis was on the minds of many at the telethon, including co-host Nigel Lythgoe, who said he was sad the comedian didn't participate in the telethon. Lythgoe told the AP he had expected Lewis to make an appearance, and that an orchestra was ready to accompany him if he had shown up to the Las Vegas casino where the telethon was filmed. The telethon also kicked off with a tribute to Lewis.

MDA telethon begins with tribute to Jerry Lewis

Lewis hosted the telethon for 45 years and raised $1.66 billion prior to the MDA's August announcement that he would no longer host the show or serve as chairman.

However, Lewis' work with the MDA will be recognized during a new fundraiser launching Monday. Famed Los Angeles comedy club The Laugh Factory will hold a web-athon featuring comedians Norm Crosby and Dave Chappelle. Fans will be able to watch the performances online and make donations.

Proceeds from the event will fund the new Jerry Lewis Award, which will be presented to those working toward a cure for muscular dystrophy. Laugh Factory owner Jamie Masada said the event will run annually on Labor Day until a cure is found.

Did you watch the MDA telethon? Did you miss Lewis?

[pr_capone]

In all my years, I have never watched that telethon.

[rocknrolla]

Originally Posted by JD10367

Shortening the telethon makes it ****ing pointless. The whole POINT of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon, growing up, was that it was the only thing of its kind. In an era of only three networks, all of which went off the air at around 1 or 2 in the morning, the eternally-long MDA telethon was like the Mount Everest of television. Every year as a kid I'd make it a point to stay up as late as possible to see all the musical entertainers, comedians, and Hollywood stars, inevitably falling asleep with the TV on around three in the morning and waking up to the sun shining in and realizing the ****ing thing was still going!!!!1!!1! Then you'd go about your day, and periodically check in to see the tote board rising.

Shortening it is like making John Holmes get a dick reduction. Defeats the entire purpose.

Same thing when I was a kid.

[Deberg_1990]

Wow, no telethon this year......how do they think this is a better way to raise money?




http://www.businessweek.com/articles...s-non-telethon

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Mr. Plow

There were firefighters out collecting money for this today.

I've finally learned to ignore them.

[bevischief]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

I've finally learned to ignore them.

It's called cable.